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First, identify the exact error
Read the full message on screen, including any number after “VAN: RESTRICTION.” Riot’s HWID ban guidance associates VAN 152 with an active hardware ID ban. Its separate restriction guide says VAN: RESTRICTION means Vanguard needs a Windows update or security-setting change before the game can launch.
| What appears | What Riot says it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| VAN 152 | A login attempt while an HWID ban is active. | Do not try other accounts on the PC. If you believe the penalty should be reviewed, request a re-evaluation from Player Support. |
| VAN: RESTRICTION, without a number | A Windows update or security-setting requirement. | Follow the full on-screen message and Riot’s restriction guide; send a support ticket with logs if it remains unresolved. |
| VAN: RESTRICTION: 1 | Secure Boot verification failed. | Check Secure Boot and UEFI; follow Riot’s BIOS guidance if needed. |
| VAN: RESTRICTION: 3 | Vanguard could not verify the game from its install drive. | Install VALORANT on the same internal drive as Windows. |
| VAN: RESTRICTION: 5 | Memory Integrity (HVCI/VBS) could not be verified. | Use Riot’s Windows, virtualization, and BIOS/UEFI checks. |
If you see VAN 152 after replacing or upgrading parts
Riot describes an HWID ban as a serious penalty involving a computer’s physical components. It may follow repeated severe in-game behavior, verifiable threats, or detected third-party tools. The timing of a PC upgrade does not establish that the upgrade caused the ban.
Replacing a motherboard or other parts, reinstalling the game, or deleting the account will not clear a genuine HWID ban. Riot explicitly states: “Reinstalling a game or deleting the responsible account won’t remove an HWID ban.”
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Request a review through Player Support
- Open Riot’s HWID ban support article and use the Player Support request route.
- Explain that you are requesting re-evaluation of the penalty, and include the account and relevant details requested in the support form.
- Wait for Riot’s review rather than trying workarounds. Riot may lift or extend the ban; a successful appeal is not guaranteed.
Do not log in with someone else’s account to test the computer. Riot says another account used on a hardware-banned device can also be restricted there and may receive a temporary ban.
If the error says VAN: RESTRICTION
A restriction error is a configuration check, not the same message as an active HWID ban. Read the entire error and make only the changes that match its requirement. Riot’s general guide covers Windows updates and security features, and says to contact support with logs if the required correction does not resolve the issue.
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The general guide, checked October 4, 2026, names Windows build 19045 or newer for one requirement and build 26100 or newer, supported only on Windows 11, for another. These are requirement-specific thresholds, not a blanket rule for every restriction code; check Riot’s live instructions and the full message for your case.
VAN: RESTRICTION: 1 — Secure Boot verification
Riot says this can mean Secure Boot is disabled, the system is not using UEFI, or the motherboard BIOS needs an update. Check the Secure Boot status first. If the restriction remains, follow Riot’s BIOS update instructions and contact support with logs if the correction does not work. BIOS menus and procedures vary by motherboard, so use the manufacturer’s instructions for your exact model.
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See Riot’s VAN: RESTRICTION: 1 guide.
VAN: RESTRICTION: 3 — game and Windows on different drives
Riot says Vanguard could not verify the game from its install drive and requires VALORANT to be on the same internal drive as Windows. If you recently moved storage or reinstalled the game, check the installation location. This resolves the specified drive requirement; it does not remove an HWID ban.
See Riot’s VAN: RESTRICTION: 3 guide.
VAN: RESTRICTION: 5 — Memory Integrity, HVCI, or VBS
Riot identifies this as a failure to verify Memory Integrity, also known as HVCI/VBS. Its guidance includes Windows, virtualization, and BIOS/UEFI checks. Follow the listed steps and use the device or motherboard manufacturer’s official directions for model-specific firmware settings rather than changing unrelated BIOS options.
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See Riot’s VAN: RESTRICTION: 5 guide.
Other restriction messages
Depending on the system configuration, Vanguard may require TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Memory Integrity/HVCI/VBS, or IOMMU. Check the full error and VGTray for the specific requirement, then use Riot’s general restriction guide. Avoid toggling unrelated security or firmware settings.
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